So, You Wanna Be a Registered Dietician?
To hold the registered dietitian credential, a dietitian must complete approved course work in food and nutrition and earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the U.S. or a foreign equivalent. A candidate must complete an internship of six months to a year, sometimes coordinated with the degree program, and pass a national written exam given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Assn. Registration is good nationwide. Some states have additional requirements.
* To maintain the credential, an R.D. must complete 75 hours of continuing education over five years.
* Some RDs also earn specialty certifications, such as diabetes educator or certified nutrition support dietitian (they care for critically ill patients). These are administered by specialty organizations.
* In the United States, there are 61,881 registered dietitians, according to the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Most are in the ADA, based in Chicago and founded in 1917 to promote sound nutrition information for the public.
* Dietitians work in a variety of settings. Among the options: hospitals, outpatient clinics, extended-care facilities, HMOs, home care, private practice consultations, public health or community health programs, university faculty or research, school food service, industry or organizations. Less traditional work assignments are on the rise, including nutrition journalism, sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs.
* According to the ADA, about 63% of entry-level dietitians earn $25,000 to $35,000 a year, and 24% earn $35,000 to $45,000. With experience, many R.D.s earn more than $50,000, based on the ADA’s 1995 survey. In the Los Angeles area, dietitians in private practice generally charge $75 to $125 per hour for consultations.
* For more career information, call the ADA, (800) 877-1600, Ext. 4897, or visit its Web site: https://www.eatright.org.
So, You Wanna Be a Registered Dietitian?